Anthem Study Guide

Anthem Study Guide

Chapter 1

1a. Anthem is a dystopian society where every aspect of an individual’s life is controlled by the government. For example, the government decides what job you preform for the rest of your life. Everyone knows everything and there’s nothing new to discover. Because it is forbidden to reminisce about the past, the more intelligent people are often watched with a tight eye so they cannot figure out any information about the past.

1b. I wouldn’t want to live in this society because I want to choose my job and if I want to learn more.

2. The labor is intense and their bodies become so broken that they age before their time. They are worn out at 40 and go to the home of the useless to die.

3. They don’t want anyone to have individuality. They want everyone to be treated equally and to treat everyone equally. If the kids are raised away from their parents, then the kids will be raised equally.

4. Equality is a fine specimen of a man. He is young, tall, strong...If he were any more perfect, the powers in charge would have certainly put him in the sewers or completely out of sight from his "brothers". This is all in addition to his brilliance. The irony behind his very bland name is that he is expected to be no different than any other of his not so perfect "brothers".

5. Equality 7-2521 alway displayed a keen intellect and pride. Equality-2521 has ambitions to join the Council of Scholars. The Scholars, however, fear what Equality-2521 is capable of producing. To break his spirit and discourage his intellect, Equality-2521 is relegated to the menial job of street sweeper.

6. Anthem takes place at a time in the future after collectivist values have caused the breakdown of all social order in the underground city.

7a. I think they would be happy because I want to learn more. I wouldn’t want to know just the basics.

7b. His teachers think that it’s one of the worst things to ever do

8. He has a desire to learn, and enjoys learning. Therefore, he has no guilt and is willing to be punished for trying new things.

9. Yes, I would want to be friends with him. He isn’t boring. He wants to live life instead of doing the same thing every day.

Chapter 2

1. Liberty 5-3000 is described as "straight and thin as a blade of iron" She wild, proud, beautiful, and brave. Nothing can break her courageous spirit and individuality. Breathtakingly beautiful, she has long blonde hair which flies out "in the wind, shining and wild, as if it defied men to restrain it."

2. Every part of an individual's life is controlled by the state. Mating, giving birth to children, raising children, assigning jobs - all the tasks that we see as individual are taken over by the state and people are allowed